Presents!

“It’s like Christmas!  There are all these presents out there, and soon we get to find out which ones are ours!”  Our intern Kaylee stood expectantly looking at the group of new students.  And, she was right!  While we get to review their applications and send them emails ahead of time, we don’t get to meet our students until we’re standing with all of the SI site leaders in the chapel at the SI base.

Once again, God has blessed us with enthusiastic, gifted participants.  For these two weeks, we have three young high school aged women and one adult leader.  We’ve had a busy week, including helping the Adult Women with a sewing project, playing and interacting with the little kids from the community, helping the Treces and Pre-teens with projects, and visiting women in their homes.

One of the highlights of the week was when Debbie talked with our Young Women about handling conflicts in their relationships.  She is a counselor who works primarily with youth and women in crisis situations, so she was able to bring a lot of practical suggestions to them. 

As a Christ-follower, she also emphasized the Bibles call for women to respect their spouses, even when they are frustrated with them.  The women really connected with her, and we’re planning to continue the conversation next week. 

Kaylee blowing out her candle...
withMelissa ready to help out!

Debbie doesn’t speak much Spanish, but Daisy and Kimberley were on hand to help translate.  That’s one of the things that typically worries folks before coming – how will I connect when I cannot speak the language?  The Holy Spirit shows us again and again that despite that ‘barrier’ He truly is in our midst. Yes, it’s important that we can help translate, but the sincerity and wisdom and love were all Debbie’s!

We’ve also had the gift of some great food.  On Thursday Kaylee celebrated her 21^st birthday.  Daisy bought iced coffee (one of Kaylee’s favorite things here in Jarabacoa) and bizcocho (cake).  We all enjoyed the yummy treat, and are thankful for Kaylee and God’s work in her life.  We know that as she enters this new year, He will continue to be her guide.


Getting ready to dig in to some amazing food!

Last night Joemny cooked us a wonderful meal.  Moro (rice cooked with beans), Pollo (chicken), Ensalada (a fresh salad with a simple, delicious dressing), and Tostones (friend green plantains).  We ate at the site, as her small home couldn’t fit us all.  We love being able to show off the amazing cooking skills of the women of El Callejon! 

Joemny is one of our young women, and today we visited her home where she shared some of her testimony.  We’ve written about her before, how God used a moto accident to draw her to Himself.  While their lives are not easy, she and her husband continue to look to God to provide for them and their blended family.

Joemny and three of the children

We praise God for another group of amazing outreach participants for this outreach.  Each is different, and each brings something different and wonderful to El Callejon, and to us. 

The summer has flown by.  After this two-week group, we have a one-week group, and then it's vacation time.  While we’re ready for a rest, we’ll be sad not to be meeting new ‘presents’ until later this fall!  God, You are so good!!